diff --git a/sites/all/modules/filefield/field_file.inc b/sites/all/modules/filefield/field_file.inc
index f7bfcab..f61231c 100644
--- a/sites/all/modules/filefield/field_file.inc
+++ b/sites/all/modules/filefield/field_file.inc
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ function field_file_save_file($filepath, $validators = array(), $dest = FALSE, $
   // Call the validation functions.
   $errors = array();
   foreach ($validators as $function => $args) {
-    array_unshift($args, $file);
+    array_unshift($args, &$file);
     $errors = array_merge($errors, call_user_func_array($function, $args));
   }